North Baldrine Farm Planning Statement

Appendix 2

Application for agricultural building North Baldrine Farm, Laxey IM4 7QL North Baldrine Farm is an active farming enterprise (AB1112) consisting of @ 170 acres of mostly hill land, located on an elevated position above Laxey. The farm is currently stocked with 25 breeding cows which produce calves in March/April annually and 10 other cattle intended for finishing or breeding.

It has become apparent that outwintering the animals is becoming increasingly difficult given the higher precipitation rates and the exposed nature of the farmland. The current process is to plant folder crops ( 20 acres of kale) in the summer and utilize the mature crop from November to February by strip feeding, providing ad lib silage and concentrates. During periods of high rainfall it is all but impossible to access these areas with machinery to supplement the daily feed. Furthermore, it has become apparent that outwintering of the animals on the locations is negatively effecting the soil structure (compaction) and increasing the risk of erosion. Areas currently reserved for fodder crops could instead be used for spring grazing and production of additional feed.

Housing the animals in a shed, particularly the breeding females, will provide shelter and access to them during inclement weather, reduced illness and allowing individual animals to be isolated should the need arise. They will be protected from the elements and their physical condition would improve as they conserve energy. Their levels of stress from continuously being exposed to rain, mud and cold temperatures would be reduced.

Calving all of the breeding cows under cover would no doubt have a positive impact on survival rates for new born calves and improve their initial development amd general welfare.

The proposed building is to replace a stone barn which is dilapidated and not fit for purpose due to its condition. It has restricted access and lacks appropriate ventilation which make it unsuitable for the housing of animals. The proposed building directly places the existing stone building which forms one side of an enclosed farm yard and is bordered by existing, larger shone barns that are currently utilised for storage of equipment and feed, they are unsuitable for animal housing for the same reasons as above.